500 Gallons of Propane Cost
The standard residential fill. National average $1,337 at $2.674/gal (EIA, week ending 30 March 2026). Volume-discount sweet spot, normal delivery scope, full per-state breakdown.
Latest EIA residential propane price
Source: EIA SHOPP residential propane survey. Current data is the final release of the 2025/26 heating season (week ending 30 March 2026). EIA pauses weekly publication April-September; next release expected October 2026. Refreshed 26 May 2026.
500 Gallons: What It Costs Today
National avg (retail)
$1,337
500 × $2.674 (EIA April 2026)
National avg (with 8% volume discount)
$1,230
Typical at 500-gal residential order
Cheapest state (Texas)
$1,092
$2.184/gal × 500 (retail)
Most expensive (Hawaii)
$2,075
$4.15/gal × 500 (PADD-5 fallback)
BTU delivered
45.75M BTU
Each gallon = 91,500 BTU
Heating coverage (2,000 sqft, moderate)
4-5 months
Includes water + cooking
500 Gallons of Propane Cost by State (Sample, April 2026)
EIA per-gallon residential price × 500. Add 0-3% for delivery; subtract 5-10% if your supplier offers a volume discount at this size (most do).
| State | Price/gal | 500-gal cost (retail) | With 8% volume discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $2.184 | $1,092 | $1,005 |
| Louisiana | $2.22 | $1,110 | $1,021 |
| Florida | $2.55 | $1,275 | $1,173 |
| Virginia | $2.78 | $1,390 | $1,279 |
| Pennsylvania | $3.22 | $1,610 | $1,481 |
| Vermont | $3.95 | $1,975 | $1,817 |
| Hawaii | $4.15 | $2,075 | $1,909 |
See full pricing for all 50 states. Source: EIA Heating Oil & Propane Survey.
What 500 Gallons of Propane Buys
500 gallons = 45.75 million BTU. Practical translation depends on what's hooked up:
- Whole-home heating, 2,000 sqft, moderate climate: 4-5 months (typical residential heating-season fill)
- Whole-home heating, 2,000 sqft, cold climate: 2.5-3.5 months (often the post-Thanksgiving fill in NE / upper Midwest)
- Whole-home heating, 3,500 sqft, cold climate: 1.5-2 months, consider sizing the next order at 1,000 gallons
- Water heating + cooking only: 14-20 months, a single 500-gal fill stretches over a year
- Backup generator at half load (5 kW continuous): ~330 hours (about 14 days continuous, or 30+ days of cycling backup)
- Pool heater (50,000 BTU): ~915 hours of operation
- 20-lb BBQ cylinder refills: ~106 refills
For your specific home and appliance mix use the propane usage calculator.
Cost at Other Quantities
500 Gallons of Propane: FAQ
How much does 500 gallons of propane cost in 2026?
At the April 2026 EIA national residential average of $2.674 per gallon, 500 gallons of propane costs about $1,337. Most suppliers offer a 5-10% volume discount at this size, taking the practical price to roughly $1,205-$1,275 in lower-priced states. The same 500 gallons in Texas runs about $1,092 at retail and as low as $983 with the volume discount. In Hawaii, 500 gallons hits $2,075 retail or $1,870 with discount. The volume discount typically waives any partial-fill or trip fee that would otherwise be added.
Is 500 gallons a normal residential propane order?
Yes, it's the most common residential delivery size in the US. A standard 500-gallon home tank holds 400 usable gallons (the 80% fill rule), so a top-up after the tank is roughly 1/4 full takes about 300 gallons, and a full fill from near-empty takes 380-400 gallons. Suppliers consider 500 gallons to be a 'will-call' or 'keep-full' standard delivery, not a partial fill. Most homes that heat with propane fill 2-3 times per year in this range.
What does 500 gallons of propane heat?
500 gallons delivers roughly 45.75 million BTU. In a 2,000 sqft home in moderate climate (mid-Atlantic, lower Midwest), 500 gallons covers about 4-5 months of whole-home heating including water heating, cooking, and a propane fireplace. In cold climates (New England, upper Midwest, Mountain West), expect 2.5-3.5 months. For homes that use propane only for water heating and cooking, 500 gallons stretches to 14-20 months. A propane backup generator at half load uses about 1.5 gal/hr, so 500 gallons sustains roughly 330 hours (~14 days) of continuous backup power.
When should you order more or less than 500 gallons?
Order more (750-1,000 gallons) if your tank capacity allows, you live in a cold climate with 1,200+ annual usage, or you want to lock in a lower per-gallon price. Suppliers typically offer 10-15% off retail at 1,000 gallons. Order less (200-300 gallons) if your tank can't accept 500, you're doing a summer top-off, or you're testing a new supplier before committing to a full fill. Below 200 gallons most suppliers add a partial-fill fee that erases any volume savings.
Why does 500 gallons cost so much more in some states?
Three drivers: feedstock proximity, market structure, and weather. PADD-3 (Texas, Louisiana) is closest to the Mont Belvieu hub and consistently 15-20% below national. PADD-1A (New England) and PADD-5 (West Coast and Hawaii) pay 30-60% premiums on top of higher delivery costs and (especially in NE) winter spot pricing. In single-supplier rural markets the lack of competition adds another 5-10%. The EIA per-state data captures retail averages but not delivery fees or volume discounts, so the realised 500-gallon price varies more than the table suggests.